Agenda and minutes
Venue: Board Room 1 - Brent Civic Centre, Engineers Way, Wembley HA9 0FJ. View directions
Contact: Bryony Gibbs, Governance Officer 020 8937 1355, Email: bryony.gibbs@brent.gov.uk
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Apologies for absence and clarification of alternate members Minutes: Apologies for absence were received from Councillor M Patel. |
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Declarations of interests Members are invited to declare at this stage of the meeting, the nature and existence of any relevant disclosable pecuniary, personal or prejudicial interests in the items on this agenda and to specify the item(s) to which they relate. Minutes: Councillor Hirani declared a personal interest with regard to agenda item 7, Future Provision of the Pension Administration Service, as a close relative received a Brent Local Government Pension.
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Minutes of the previous meeting PDF 79 KB To approve the minutes of the previous meeting as a correct record. Minutes: RESOLVED that the minutes of the previous meeting held on 12 October 2017 be approved as an accurate record of the meeting.
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Matters arising (if any) To consider any matters arising from the minutes of the previous meeting. Minutes: There were no matters arising. |
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Appointments to Sub-Committees / Outside Bodies PDF 37 KB To be tabled on the day. Minutes: The Chair drew the committee’s attention to the nominations of the Brent Conservative Group with regard to the Brent Pension Fund, Senior Staff Appointments Sub Committee and Staff Appeals Sub-Committee.
At the request of David Veale (Director HR and Organisational Development), the committee also considered the appointment of Mr Sebastian Steer, Business Manager at Queens Park Community School, to the position of Employer Member on the Pension Board.
Councillor Warren questioned the process followed in identifying a suitable candidate for the vacant employer member position on the Pension Board. David Veale explained that the various employers were advised of the vacancy. Mr Steer had expressed interest in the position and had suitable skills and experience as a business manager for the school.
RESOLVED:
i) that the following sub-committee appointments be agreed:
Brent Pension Fund Davidson (Full Member) Maurice (Substitute Member) Warren (Substitute Member)
Senior Staff Appointments Warren (Full Member) Davidson (Substitute Member) Ms Shaw (Substitute Member)
Staff Appeals Sub-Committee Warren (Full Member) Davidson (Substitute Member) Maurice (Substitute Member)
ii) that the appointment of Mr Sebastian Steer as Employer Member on the Pension Board be approved.
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Future Provision of the Pension Administration Service PDF 125 KB The report seeks approval from the Committee to enter into a shared service arrangement with a partner through the delegation of functions pursuant to The Local Government Acts 1972, and 2000, the Localism Act 2011 and the Local Authorities (Arrangement for the discharge of Functions) (England) Regulations 2012 for the provision of the future pensions administration service.
Please note that Appendix 1 is not for publication as it contains exempt information as specified in the Local Government Act 1972.
Additional documents:
Minutes: David Veale (Director of HR and Organisational Development) introduced a report from the Strategic Director of Resources, seeking approval to enter into a shared service arrangement with the Local Pensions Partnership (LPP) for the Brent Council pension administration service. The committee was informed that this service had been outsourced since 1994 and was currently awarded to Capita Employee Benefits. Capita’s performance on the contract had not been satisfactory and concerns had been raised in the triennial valuation by the pension fund actuary with regard to the quality of Brent’s pension administration data. The option of procurement of the pension administration contract via a mini competition using an existing procurement framework had been explored; however, the commercial market was small and officers considered that the shared service arrangement might offer the council a better service going forward. Members were advised that Cabinet approval to the arrangement was also necessary and Cabinet would be considering the matter at its meeting on 13 November 2017.
David Veale drew members’ attention to the options appraisal of prospective partners, Orbis, LPP and West Yorkshire Pension Fund (WYPF) detailed in the report, noting that the committee also had before them an appendix exempt from publication under paragraph 3, schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972. In analysing the options, several key areas had been considered including annual contractual costs, implementation costs, operating system and quality of service. Orbis was considered too costly and whilst the costs for LPP exceeded those of WYPF, LPP was considered to offer greater sustainability of the quality of service provision. The operating system used by LPP was sophisticated and the most commonly used, LPP operated in other London Boroughs and had experience of service migration with Capita.
In the subsequent discussion, the committee questioned whether the council had, through contract management, applied any financial penalties to Capita for poor performance. Clarity was sought regarding the length of the proposed contract with a shared service partner. Members also questioned whether forthcoming changes to the use of the Oracle system within the council as part of the council’s Digital Strategy would affect the ability to link with other pension administration operating systems.
In response, David Veale advised that the council had previously pursued underperformance with Capita and further information about incidences resulting in any financial clawback under the contract in the current year would be obtained and provided to members following the meeting. The committee was informed that a Service Level Agreement would be entered into with the approved local government partner and it was not necessary to stipulate a length of time under this arrangement; however it would be usual for a period of at least five years to be observed. Althea Loderick (Strategic Director Resources) confirmed that the proposed changes to Oracle would have no implications for linking with pension administration operating systems.
RESOLVED:
i) that the selection of the Local Pensions Partnership (LPP) as a shared service partner for the Brent Council pension administration service, using the delegation ... view the full minutes text for item 6. |
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Any other urgent business Notice of items to be raised under this heading must be given in writing to the Head of Executive and Member Services or his representative before the meeting in accordance with Standing Order 60. Minutes: None. |